The mass campaigns of defiance and other actions of our organizations and people can only culminate in the establishment of democracy.The apartheid destruction on my subcontinent is incalculable.The fabric of family life of millions of my people has been shattered.Millions are homeless and unemployed.Our economy-Our economy lies in ruins and our people are embroiled in political strife.Our resort to the armed struggle in 1960，with the formation of the military wing of the ANC，Umkhonto we Sizwe，was a purely defensive action against the violence of apartheid.The factors which necessitated the armed struggle still exist today.We have no option but to continue.
We express the hope that a climate conducive to a negotiated settlement will be created soon so that there may no longer be the need for the armed struggle.I am a loyal and disciplined member of the African National Congress.I am therefore in full agreement with all of its objectives，strategies，and tactics.The need to unite the people of our country is as important a task now as it always has been.No individual leader is able to take on this enormous task on his own.It is our task as leader to place our views before our organization and to allow the democratic structures to decide on the way forward.On the question of democratic practice，I feel duty bound to make the point that a leader of the movement is a person who has been democratically elected at a national conference.This is a principle which must be upheld without any exceptions.
Today，I wish to report to you that my talks with the government have been aimed at normalizing the political situation in the country.We have not as yet begun discussing the basic demands of the struggle.I wish to stress that I myself have at no time entered into negotiations about the future of our country except to insist on a meeting between the ANC and the government.Mr.De Klerk has gone further than any other Nationalist President in taking real steps to normalize the situation.However，there are further steps，as outlined in the Harare Declaration，that have to be met before negotiations on the basic demands of our people can begin.I reiterate our call for，inter alia，the immediate ending of the State of Emergency and the freeing of all，and not only some political prisoners.Only such a normalized situation，which allows for free political activity，can allow us to consult our people in order to obtain a mandate.The people need to be consulted on who will negotiate and on the content of such negotiations.
Negotiations cannot take place—Negotiations cannot take place above the heads or behind the backs of our people.It is our belief that the future of our country can only be determined by a body which is democratically elected on a non racial basis.Negotiations on the dismantling of apartheid will have to address the overwhelming demands of our people for a democratic，non racial and unitary South Africa.There must be an end to white monopoly on political power and a fundamental restructuring of our political and economic systems to ensure that the inequalities of apartheid are addressed and our society thoroughly democratized.It must be added that Mr.De Klerk himself is a man of integrity who is acutely aware of the dangers of a public figure not honoring his undertakings.But as an organization we base our policy and strategy on the harsh reality we are faced with.And this reality is that we are still suffering under the policies of the Nationalist government.Our struggle has reached a decisive moment.We call on our people to seize this moment so that the process towards democracy is rapid and uninterrupted.We have waited too long for our freedom.We can no longer wait.Now is the time to intensify the struggle on all fronts.To relax our efforts now would be a mistake which generations to come will not be able to forgive.
The sight of freedom looming on the horizon should encourage us to redouble our efforts.It is only through disciplined mass action that our victory can be assured.We call on our white compatriots to join us in the shaping of a new South Africa.The freedom movement is a political home for you too.We call on the international community to continue the campaign to isolate the apartheid regime.To lift sanctions now would be to run the risk of aborting the process towards the complete eradication of apartheid.Our march to freedom is irreversible.We must not allow fear to stand in our way.Universal suffrage on a common voters’roll in a united，democratic and non-racial South Africa is the only way to peace and racial harmony.
In conclusion，I wish to quote my own words during my trial in 1964.They are as true today as they were then.I quote：I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination.I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and—and with equal opportunities.It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve.But if needs be，it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.
译文参考
为理想我愿献出生命
——纳尔逊·曼德拉在开普敦的演讲
我的朋友们、同志们还有南非同胞们：我以和平、民主和全人类自由的名义，向你们大家致意。今天我站在你们面前，不是作为一名预言家，而是作为谦卑的人民公仆。你们的不懈努力和英勇的牺牲才使我有机会在今天站在这里，因此，我要把我的余生献给你们。在我获释的今天，我要向千百万同胞，向世界各地为我的获释做出不懈努力的人们，致以真诚的、最热烈的感谢。
